Formateur Wescot-Williams gets extension until today

POSTED: 06/12/13 1:10 PM

Status candidate-minister Laville remains unclear

St. Maarten – No official confirmation came forward Monday about rumors that circulated on Sunday that Independent MP Romain Laville had flunked the screening and would not become a minister in the Wescot-Williams III cabinet.

When this newspaper approached MP Laville on Sunday evening about it, his reply was: “As to the rumors. I do not know, I am awaiting a response as the people of St. Maarten are. If the rumors are true then so be it. I would think my email to you is right for answering the rumors.”

With this last remark, MP Laville referred to a statement he sent to the media that we published on our opinion page Monday. Though several media have indicated that the statement came after news broke that he had failed the screening, the text of his statement seems to indicate otherwise. In it, Laville wrote amongst others: “No matter what takes place from this point forward, whether or not the opportunity presents itself to become a minister so I can be a better servant, I leave that up to the ones in charge to make that decision. After every rain comes the sunshine, around every cloud is a silver lining and as my mother would say every disappointment is for a blessing from God.”

The tone of his statement came across as somewhat dejected, but it did not contain confirmation that he would indeed not become part of the next cabinet as the Minister of Economic Affairs.

Today approached MP Laville yesterday again via email with some pertinent questions about the situation, but this time he did not respond.

We asked MP Laville to confirm or deny the reports that he has failed the screening. The basis for a possible failure have been known for quite some time: last year Laville threatened to shoot UP-MP Jules James and later he also threatened the Mighty Dow Isidore York during an argument about the Tempo Turns 7 event.

We also asked MP Laville whether, in case he will not become a minister, he will stick to outgoing Minister of Economic Affairs Romeo Pantophlet.

Monday afternoon however, the Governor’s Cabinet issued a brief press release that indicates not all is well in the formation process. Governor Holiday discussed on Sunday the draft report formateur Wescot-Williams submitted to him on Friday.
“Based on the evaluation of the report by the governor, the formateur requested an extension until Wednesday June 12 to finalize her report,” the press release states.

The last sentence of the press release debunks media reports that the new cabinet would be sworn in today: “After completion of the formation report a date will be established for the appointment and swearing in of the new cabinet.”

While there has been no official reaction from the governor’s cabinet to the draft decree submitted by Vice Prime Minister William Marlin – a decision by four ministers of the outgoing cabinet to dissolve the parliament and to call for interim elections – yesterday’s press release from the governor’s cabinet makes clear that the formation process for a new government continues.